Objective: To compare the genomic profiles of blastocoel fluid (BF), inner cell mass (ICM), and trophectoderm (TE) cells derived from the same blastocyst.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Academic and in vitro fertilization units.

Patient(s): Sixteen donated cryopreserved embryos at blastocyst stage.

Intervention(s): BF, TE, and ICM cells were retrieved from each blastocyst for chromosome analysis by means of next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Main outcome measure(s): Aneuploidy screening and assessment of mosaicism in BF, TE and ICM samples with subsequent comparison of genomic profiles between the three blastocyst compartments.

Result(s): Out of 16 blastocysts, 10 BF samples and 14 TE and ICM samples provided reliable NGS data for comprehensive chromosome analysis. Only 40.0% of BF-DNA karyotypes were fully concordant with TE or ICM, compared with 85.7% concordance between TE and ICM. In addition, BF-DNA was burdened with mosaic aneuploidies and the total number of affected chromosomes in BF was significantly higher compared with the TE and ICM.

Conclusion(s): BF-DNA can be successfully amplified and subjected to NGS, but owing to increased discordance with ICM and TE, BF does not adequately represent the status of the rest of the embryo. To overcome biologic and technical challenges associated with BF sampling and processing, blastocentesis would require improvement in both laboratory protocols and aneuploidy calling algorithms. Therefore, TE biopsy remains the most effective way to predict embryonic karyotype, and the use of BF as a single source of DNA for preimplantation genetic screening is not yet advised.

Background: Ring chromosome instability may influence a patient's phenotype and challenge its interpretation.

Results: Here, we report a 4-year-old girl with a compound phenotype. Cytogenetic analysis revealed her karyotype to be 46,XX,r(22). aCGH identified a 180 kb 22q13.32 duplication, a de novo 2.024 Mb subtelomeric 22q13.32-q13.33 deletion, which is associated with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and a maternal single gene 382-kb TUSC7 deletion of uncertain clinical significance located in the region of the 3q13.31 deletion syndrome. All chromosomal aberrations were confirmed by real-time PCR in lymphocytes and detected in skin fibroblasts. The deletions were also found in the buccal epithelium. According to FISH analysis, 8% and 24% of the patient's lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts, respectively, had monosomy 22.

Conclusions: We believe that a combination of 22q13.32-q13.33 deletion and monosomy 22 in a portion of cells can better define the clinical phenotype of the patient. Importantly, the in vivo presence of monosomic cells indicates ring chromosome instability, which may favor karyotype correction that is significant for the development of chromosomal therapy protocols.

Ring chromosomes (RCs) are circular DNA molecules, which occur rarely in eukaryotic nuclear genomes. Lilian Vaughan Morgan first described them in the fruit fly. Human embryos very seldom have RCs, about 1:50,000. Carriers of RCs may have varying degrees of symptoms, from healthy phenotype to serious pathologies in physical and intellectual development. Many authors describe common symptoms of RC presence: short stature and some developmental delay that could be described as a “ring chromosome syndrome.” As a rule, RCs arise de novo through the end-joining of two DNA double-strand breaks, telomere-subtelomere junction, or inv dup del rearrangement in both meiosis and mitosis. There are family cases of RC inheritance. The presence of RCs causes numerous secondary chromosome rearrangements in vivo and in vitro. RCs can change their size, become lost, or increase their copy number and cause additional deletions, duplication, and translocations, affecting both RCs and other chromosomes. In this review, we examine RC inheritance, instability, mechanisms of formation, and potential clinical applications of artificially created RCs for large-scale chromosome rearrangement treatment.

This article contains data on the frequencies of alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2279590 and rs1532278 in the CLU gene in a cohort of normal elderly from the Russian population. The SNPs have been reported to be associated with Alzheimer's disease and cognitive functions in genome-wide and candidate genes association studies. Cognitive performance in sample set was estimated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The frequencies of alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of two SNPs were calculated in 3 groups: total sample set, sample set with MoCA score less than 21 (the first quartile) and group with MoCA score more than 24 (the fourth quartile).

Hypertension and bronchial asthma are a major issue for people's health. As of 2014, approximately one billion adults, or ~ 22% of the world population, have had hypertension. As of 2011, 235-330 million people globally have been affected by asthma and approximately 250,000-345,000 people have died each year from the disease. The development of the effective treatment therapies against these diseases is complicated by their comorbidity features. This is often a major problem in diagnosis and their treatment. Hence, in this study the bioinformatical methodology for the analysis of the comorbidity of these two diseases have been developed. As such, the search for candidate genes related to the comorbid conditions of asthma and hypertension can help in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the comorbid condition of these two diseases, and can also be useful for genotyping and identifying new drug targets.

Resistance to cancer therapy continues to be a major limitation for the successful treatment of cancer. There are many published studies on therapy resistance in breast and prostate cancers; however, there are currently no data on molecular markers associated with resistance. The conflicting data were reported regarding the AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway components as markers predicting resistance. The AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway is involved in the development of many human cancers; its activation is related to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, as well as to therapy resistance. Molecular alterations in the AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway provide a platform to identify universal markers associated with the development of resistance to cancer therapy. © 2018, Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer. All rights reserved.

Cognitive performance is an important endophenotype for various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric traits. In the present study two genetic variants in the leucine-zipper protein (LUZP2) and the F-box 40 protein (FBXO40) genes, previously reported to be genome-wide significant for Alzheimer's diseases and schizophrenia, were examined for an association with cognitive abilities in normal elderly fromthe Russian population. Rs1021261 in the LUZP2 and rs3772130 in the FBXO40 were genotyped bymultiplex PCR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in a sample of 708 normal elderly subjects tested for cognitive performance using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Association of genetic variability with theMoCA scores was estimated by parametric and nonparametric analysis of variance and by the frequency comparison between upper and lower quartiles of MoCA distribution. Significantly higher frequency of ""TT"" genotype of rs1021261 in the LUZP2 gene aswell as ""A"" allele and ""AA"" genotype of rs3772130 in the FBXO40 gene was found in a subsample of individuals with the MoCA score less than 20 comparing to the fourth quartile's subsample (MoCA > 25). The data of the present study suggests that genetic variability in the LUZP2 and FBXO40 loci associated with neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases is also contributed to the normal variability in cognitive performance in the elderly.

Enzymes CYP4A11 and CYP4F2 are involved in biosynthesis of vasoactive 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and may contribute to pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated whether polymorphisms of the CYP4A11 and CYP4F2 genes are associated with the risk of CAD in Russian population. DNA samples from 1323 unrelated subjects (637 angiographically confirmed CAD patients and 686 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals) were genotyped for polymorphisms rs3890011, rs9332978, and rs9333029 of CYP4A11 and rs3093098 and rs1558139 of CYP4F2 by using the Mass-ARRAY 4 system. SNPs rs3890011 and rs9332978 of CYP4A11 were associated with increased risk of CAD in women: OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.57, P = 0.004, and Q = 0.01 and OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.13-1.87, P = 0.004, and Q = 0.01, respectively. Haplotype G-C-A of CYP4A11 was associated with increased risk of CAD (adjusted OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.12-1.78, and P = 0.0036). Epistatic interactions were found between rs9332978 of CYP4A11 and rs1558139 of CYP4F2 (Pinteraction = 0.025). In silico analysis allowed identifying that SNP rs9332978 is located at a binding site for multiple transcription factors; many of them are known to regulate the pathways involved in the pathogenesis of CAD. This is the first study in Europeans that reported association between polymorphism rs9332978 of CYP4A11 and susceptibility to coronary artery disease.

We examined common variation in asthma risk by conducting a meta-analysis of worldwide asthma genome-wide association studies (23,948 asthma cases, 118,538 controls) of individuals from ethnically diverse populations. We identified five new asthma loci, found two new associations at two known asthma loci, established asthma associations at two loci previously implicated in the comorbidity of asthma plus hay fever, and confirmed nine known loci. Investigation of pleiotropy showed large overlaps in genetic variants with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The enrichment in enhancer marks at asthma risk loci, especially in immune cells, suggested a major role of these loci in the regulation of immunologically related mechanisms.

Copy number variations (CNVs) of the human CNTN6 gene caused by megabase-scale microdeletions or microduplications in the 3p26.3 region are often the cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability and developmental delay. Surprisingly, patients with different copy numbers of this gene display notable overlapping of neuropsychiatric symptoms. The complexity of the study of human neuropathologies is associated with the inaccessibility of brain material. This problem can be overcome through the use of reprogramming technologies that permit the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from fibroblasts and their subsequent in vitro differentiation into neurons. We obtained a set of iPS cell lines derived from a patient carrier of the CNTN6 gene duplication and from two healthy donors. All iPS cell lines displayed the characteristics of pluripotent cells. Some iPS cell lines derived from the patient and from healthy donors were differentiated in vitro by exogenous expression of the Ngn2 transcription factor or by spontaneous neural differentiation of iPS cells through the neural rosette stage. The obtained neurons showed the characteristics of mature neurons as judged by the presence of neuronal markers and by their electrophysiological characteristics. Analysis of allele-specific expression of the CNTN6 gene in these neuronal cells by droplet digital PCR demonstrated that the level of expression of the duplicated allele was significantly reduced compared to that of the wild-type allele. Importantly, according to the sequencing data, both copies of the CNTN6 gene, which were approximately 1 Mb in size, showed no any additional structural rearrangements.

Цель. Изучение ассоциации вариабельных сайтов G-1082A (rs3024491) и C-592A (rs1800872) гена IL10 с годовым исходом у больных острым коронарным синдромом без подъёма сегмента ST (ОКСбпST). Материал и методы. В исследование включено 178 пациентов с ОКСбпST, у которых определены полиморфизмы C-592А (rs1800872) и G-1082А (rs3024491) гена IL10. Генотипирование с помощью TaqMan-проб проводилось на амплификаторе “iCycler iQ” (BIO-RAD, США). В группу контроля вошли 185 относительно здоровых жителей г. Кемерово. У 93 пациентов была изучена концентрация в крови интерлейкина-10 (ИЛ-10) методом твёрдофазного иммуноферментного анализа с использованием наборов реактивов BIOSOURCE (Бельгия). Референсные значения ИЛ-10 определены на уровне 2,98 (1,75-4,31) пг/мл. На годовом этапе “конечные точки” развились у 42 (23,5%) пациентов, прогрессирующая стенокардия - у 30 (16,8%) пациентов, кардиоваскулярная смертность в течение года составила 1,1% (n=2), нефатальный инфаркт миокарда развился у шести (3,4%), ишемический инсульт - у четырех (2,3%) пациентов. Результаты. При сравнении концентраций ИЛ-10 у пациентов с ОКСбпST с референсными значениями уровня в крови здоровых жителей г. Кемерово выявлена значимо низкая концентрация данного цитокина у пациентов с ОКСбпST (0,38 против 2,98 пг/мл; р=0,001). Анализ ассоциации изучаемых вариабельных сайтов гена IL-10 с неблагоприятными исходами в течение года показал, что генотип А/С rs3024491 (G-1082А) гена IL10 ассоциирован с развитием неблагоприятного исхода в течение года после перенесенного ОКСбпST. Анализ дожития до наступления “конечной точки” в течение 12 месяцев показал, что наиболее неблагоприятным является гетерозиготное носительство генотипа А/С rs3024491 (G-1082А) гена IL10 генотип (р=0,048). Заключение. У пациентов с ОКСбпST генотип С/С rs1800872 (С-592А) гена IL10 ассоциирован со многими факторами кардиоваскулярного риска, тогда как генотип А/А rs3024491 (G-1082А), напротив, имеет ассоциации с протективными факторами. Генотип А/С полиморфного варианта rs3024491 (G-1082А) гена IL10 ассоциирован с развитием неблагоприятных годовых исходов у больных ОКСбпST.

Болезнь Паркинсона - одно из наиболее тяжелых и распространенных нейродегенеративных заболеваний. Подавляющее большинство случаев заболевания представлено спорадической формой мультифакторной природы. Важную роль в развитии болезни Паркинсона играет генетическая предрасположенность. Цель исследования - изучение ассоциаций полиморфизмов гена COMT, кодирующего фермент катаболизма дофамина катехол-О-метилтрансферазу, с болезнью Паркинсона. Материал и методы. Обследовано 232 пациента с диагнозом «болезнь Паркинсона» и 127 здоровых лиц русской популяции Сибирского региона. В качестве материала для исследования была использована венозная кровь. Проведено генотипирование семи однонуклеотидных полиморфизмов (rs4680, rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, rs769224, rs165774, rs174696) гена COMT. Статистическая обработка результатов проводилась при помощи программы SPSS 17.0. Результаты. Выявлена достоверная ассоциация полиморфизма rs165774 с болезнью Паркинсона, что подтверждает роль полиморфных особенностей гена катехол-О-метилтрансферазы в патофизиологических процессах при болезни Паркинсона.

The review discusses issues related to the importance of interaction between genetic and environmental factors for the implementation of the genetic program of individuals and determining the level of health. Data on the importance of some nutrients (vitamins, bio-elements) for formation of health, about a role of genetic factors in maintenance of a homeostasis of biologically active substances, about associations of the genes involved in a metabolism of nutrients with various pathologies, and examples of modification of effects of genetic polymorphic variants on risk of development of common diseases by various factors (bio-elements and other components of a diet, adverse factors of environment, drugs, etc.) are presented.

В обзоре обсуждается проблема значимости взаимодействия генетических и средовых факторов для реализации генетической программы индивидов и определения их здоровья. Приведены сведения о важности некоторых нутриентов (витаминов, биоэлементов) для формирования здоровья, о значении генетических факторов в поддержании гомеостаза биологически активных веществ, об ассоциированности полиморфных вариантов генов, вовлеченных в метаболизм нутриентов, с патологическими состояниями, а также примеры модификаций эффектов вариантов генов на риск развития заболеваний многофакторной природы различными средовыми факторами (биоэлементами и другими компонентами диеты, неблагоприятными факторами среды, лекарственными препаратами и др.).

Атопическая бронхиальная астма (АБА) является многофакторным заболеванием и ее развитие зависит как от множества факторов окружающей среды, так и генетической компоненты. Генетические факторы риска развития АБА могут влиять на фенотип заболевания и степень контроля его течения. Существенный вклад в патогенез АБА вносят гены цитокинов, участвующие в иммунном ответе, развитии и активации воспаления дыхательных путей. Предполагается, что степень контроля заболевания является генно-опосредованным процессом и во многом зависит от наличия того или иного аллельного варианта в генах медиаторов, участвующих в патогенезе АБА. Знания о генетических маркерах позволит прогнозировать течение атопической бронхиальной астмы у детей. Исследование проведено для оценки ассоциации генов провоспалительных и противовоспалительных цитокинов с уровнем контроля течения атопической бронхиальной астмы (АБА). У больных детей с контролируемым (КАБА) и неконтролируемым (НАБА) течением заболевания (n = 110), а также в популяционной выборке (n = 138) изучены 11 полиморфизмов генов IL2 (rs2069762), IL4 (rs2070874 и rs2243250), IL5 (rs2069812), IL10 (rs1800872 и rs1800896), IL12B (rs3212227), TNFA (rs1800629 и rs1800630), TGFB1 (rs1800469), IFNG (rs2069705), кодирующих цитокины, принимающие активное участие в развитии и регуляции аллергического воспаления. По данным проведенного исследования, у европеоидов Восточной Сибири частоты аллелей и генотипов по изученным полиморфизмам соответствуют таковым в других европеоидных популяциях мира. Получены статистически значимые отличия между группой НАБА и контрольной выборкой по частотам генотипов IL2 (rs2069762): генотип GG чаще встречается в контрольной группе (14,1% по сравнению с 5,9% в группе НАБА, р = 0,03). Показано, что аллель IL2*T или генотип ТТ (rs2069762) предрасполагает к развитию неконтролируемого течения АБА. При сравнении гаплотипов IL4 (rs2070874 и rs2243250) с поправкой на пол и возраст, с использованием аддитивной модели наследования, показано, что наиболее часто встречающийся гаплотип СC (частота в группах АБА/КАБА/НАБА составляет 0,75/0,76/0,74 соответственно) является протективным в отношении риска развития атопической бронхиальной астмы (RR 0,53; SE 0,32; p = 0,0439). Сравнительный анализ гаплотипов TNFA (rs1800629 и rs1800630) с поправкой на пол и возраст, с использованием аддитивной модели наследования, показал, что гаплотип GC является протективным в отношении риска развития АБА (RR 0,59±0,17; р = 0,0028), а гаплотип GA - предрасполагающим к заболеванию (RR 2,07±0,25; р = 0,0034). Это характерно для атопической бронхиальной астмы вне зависимости от степени контроля заболевания (КАБА GA: RR 1,93±1,2; p = 0,0414; НАБА GA: RR 2,43±0,31; p = 0,0051). Установлено, что гены цитокинов вносят вклад в развитие АБА у детей. Эти данные для европеоидной популяции Восточной Сибири получены впервые и представляют интерес с точки зрения пополнения данных о вкладе полиморфизма генов цитокинов в развитие атопической бронхиальной астмы и контроля течения заболевания у детей.